Alfa Romeo Unveils Giulia and Giulia Ti

When the range-topping Giulia Quadrifoglio first made its debut, the 505-horsepower M3 fighter previewed what was in store for the newest Alfa Romeo sedan but did little to reveal what the more mainstream versions would look like. The Italian brand has rectified this omission with the unveiling of the base Giulia and Giulia Ti models ahead of their debut at the 2016 New York Auto Show.

As expected, both the Ti and the base Giulia look much less aggressive than their track-focused counterpart, eschewing many of the aerodynamic and mechanical upgrades in lieu of a more conventional suit of clothes that features smaller alloy wheels. Despite this, the exterior styling still has a decidedly Italian flavor, and is beautiful from many angles, though I am curious to see how it will hold up against the equally stylish Jaguar XE.

The interior of both models also retain their stylish flair with the addition of an infotainment system called Alfa-tainment. While the name is a curiosity in both awkwardness and the way it flows off the tongue, it does feature a standard 6.5-inch color touchscreen, and can be upgraded to a bigger 8.8-inch screen for more clarity and richness. Speaking of richness, buyers can also equip the pair with either aluminum, carbon fiber, or wood trim elements to help add a dash of performance or luxury to the overall driving experience. The steering system is controlled by a three-spoked flat-bottomed steering wheel and every Giulia comes equipped with a standard 7-inch infotainment system mounted in the instrument cluster.

Performance for the Giulia and Giulia Ti comes from an all-aluminum 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that incorporates direct injection technology into its design. Good for 276 horsepower and a stout 295 lb-ft of torque, it should be able to keep up with rivals, especially with all of its muscle being channeled to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission and a carbon fiber driveshaft. An optional all-wheel drive system (known as Q4) is available as an optional extra, but it appears that the new engine will not be available with a manual transmission which is an interesting omission for a brand that prides itself on being an enthusiast friendly brand. The potent engine and the slick eight-speed allows the Giulia and Giulia Ti to make the sprint to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds before topping out at 149 mph. This is commendable performance, though if you desire a stick and even more performance, then the forementioned Quadrifoglio and its 3.8-second 0 to 60 time should be just what the doctor ordered.

Look for the Giulia to go on sale sometime during 2017, but Alfa Romeo did not announce the official pricing ladder or a more specific timeframe, but look for both of those items to be revealed closer to its official launch.